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Topic: San Diego 1/8 mile (Read 1363 times)

Took my car to the track last night. My first time and it was great. The good news: the car ran fine and nothing broke. The bad news: ET 10.384 and 72.11 mph. After eight runs I got to third gear once. Top of second and 6000 rpm's was the usaual. Pushed the timeing up a bit and that helped. Slipping and sliding in first and second. Tried slipping the clutch, shifting early but the car was just putting way to much torq to the tires or was that me? Most exciting? When the 70 Chevelle in the next lane did that second gear wheely. So I' am thinking 15" wheels, slicks more advance and get into the nines. Brian

Its a lot of fun .I could tell by the times you were spinning a ton and leaving a bunch on the table.Without knowing details I would say tire pressure and possibly diffrent tires would help track might not be good for a high torque street CJ.On a really good track my CJs best 1/8 mile was 7.90 at 87.33 mph.That is a tough job trying to drive a 4 spd on with street tires.A bit of hooking up would easily get you in the 8's with an auto you would most liky be there already.A drag radial would work well with the right air pressure and are streetable also.

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had many 428 CJ and SCJ cars over the last 30 years.I currently own a 68 1/2 coupe and a 69 R code SCJ Coupe and a 70 R code SCJ Cougar Eliminator .I am looking for a 70 428 coupe if anybody knows of one for sale.

Well I am sorry we didn't meet. As you saw I could benefit from some advise on driving. Must have been pretty funny to see me go squealing 1/2 way down the track. I did lower the tire pressure to 24 psi after the first 6 runs as well as advance the timing. A couple of guys suggested I try one of the other, less slick, lanes and I did give that a try. With all that squealing it might be hard to believe that I am running on 3:25 gears. I agree some drag radials would be the way to go. Would I be breaking some race etiquette if I ask what sort of setup your using? I am thinking a set of 15" wheels for the rear and leave the front alone at 215/70/14? I guess the tire size would be the largest I can cram in there? About "easily get you into the 8's" I like your confidence. Thanks, Brian

A good set of 90/10 front shocks to help weight transfer.I recomend Calverts.The 3.25 gear is a problem when the tires break loose they really rpm fast a lower gear would help that some and make feathering it a bit easier.A taller tire would hurt the gear ratio even more allthough a bigger tire would be harder to break loose but the kill to the ratio might hurt even more when you break loose.A good set of rear adjustable shocks (Calvert can help you there also)and clamping the front half of your rear leaf springs may help also.Some tracks just suck also if yours does you never will get a great ET.The close one to me sucks but the ones 75 and 100 miles away hook very well.A vacuum secondary quick change kit to slow your 4 barrel from opening to soon and over powering the tires.I hope some of this helps.Steve

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had many 428 CJ and SCJ cars over the last 30 years.I currently own a 68 1/2 coupe and a 69 R code SCJ Coupe and a 70 R code SCJ Cougar Eliminator .I am looking for a 70 428 coupe if anybody knows of one for sale.

Honestly, I think the best advice anybody can give you is to not waste any time and money trying to set up the car for that 3.25 gear. Anything you do to the rest of the car is going to be so compromised by that 3.25 gear, it simply isn't worth doing unless and until you get another gear in there...plus, it's hard on the car. It's alot like trying to off-road in a 2 wheel drive truck...it isn't going to turn out all that well, so why beat up your vehicle doing it? If you just want to play around getting comfortable with staging and timing the lights, OK, but I'd forget about chasing the ET...just "drive" it off the line and then mash it as fast as it will take it without bogging...remembering that tire smoke is never fast. And, I'd be short-shifting it, and not power shifting it...it just isn't worth it with that gear. I wouldn't try to seriously race a stick CJ on street tires with less than 3.70s. If you're worried about rpm on the freeway, build a separate center section for when you race it, or, use a really tall tire on the street to kill off some of the rpm.

Thanks for the reality check Gerald. I put that gear set in for a reason. In the thrill of the moment I lost sight of the thought process that got me here. Freeway driving at 3200 rpm's. Will have to regroup and go back to my original direction. Please see: Parts Wanted. Thanks, Brian

Brian, This weekend is the Antique Drags at Barona. I was thinking about coming down from Anaheim where I live. Are you going? If so I could bring a few things down for you to try like a set of 90/10 shocks, I have other tires like slicks or drag radials , and if you are really industious a 4.00 or 4.30 third member. Just a thought. I would bring my '66 Shelby that should run 7.ohs to 7 teens down there. Let me know. Randy

Barona is only 10 minutes from my house. Anytime anyone goes I would try to get there.Problem is the shelby is gone, and nothing else is ready for the track yet.Brian, I went to Barona, a week ago Mustang VS world thinking it was an afternoon thing. Showed up at 4 and everyone was going home.

I' ll be there, watching. I am thinking the guy with the Chevelle will be there. Racing starts at 8. I'll be driving my dark blue 65 and wearing a lifeguard sombrero. The beautiful blond is my daughter. Hope you guys can make it. I' am getting a pair of used street radials from my neighbor and I think that is going to be it for now, maybe another pass at the stadium. Randy, I am interested in the Third member you mentioned. I have the 4:11 gear set that was in the car when I got it. Another assembly just to swap out for racing would be pretty nice. Would you PM with the particulars? 1330 U joints on the pinion? Brian

UPDATE,,,,, I went and met Brian while there. 7.17,7.15,7.15 et's with the Shelby. Great track very nice people and an "old time family" feel to the track. No gambler race sent me home around noon after I put a whipping on a 6.7 second Nova heads up. In drag racing when you sleep (at the light) you weep. It's a long 2 hour 20 minute tow for me one way but still a great time. There were some beautiful and VERY fast cars there.All pre-74 day. Nice to have met you Brian. Randy